Folding-machine.



R. J. M. DANLEY 81 L. A. SNYDER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mu) APR. 19. 1am.

1,293,357. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

fnanfolss 144/ 985' 5: 4n M4 9C R. l. M. DANLEY & L. A. SNYDER.

FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. \9. ma.

1,293,357. Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

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Patented Feb. -1, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J'. M. DANLEY, OF BROOKLYN, AND LOUIS A. SNYDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Application filed April 19, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatwe, ROBERT J. M. DAN- LEY and LOUIS A. SNYDER, both citizens of the United States, said DANLEY residing in Brooklyn borough, county of Kings, city and State of New York. and said SNYDER residing in New York city,'county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l olding-ll'iachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for dou bling or longitudinally folding a web of paper, which is usually previously printed, and also usually provided with longitudinal rows of perforations along the lines where the web is to be folded or doubled and re doubled upon itself in zigzag or fan-fold form.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to produce a simple, inexpensive and effective means for drawin the web over and through the devices which gather it into a doubled or fan-folded condition.

Upon paying off from the roll, the web is duly led over a turning bar which has a special form. to facilitate the gathering of the web. Between said bar and a final former are employed web-gathering guide fingers. which protrude in opposite directions against the opposite sides of the web, and aid to form longitudinal gathers or grooves therein at the proper points, so that said fingers coiiperate with the final former or guide and with said special bar. to reduce the web to a gathered or fan-folded condition.

Below said final former or guide, there is provided a work-feeding device which draws the web up as it leaves the supply roll, and pulls it first over an upper guide and over said special bar, and then down past the grooving or gathering fingers, and then through the tinal former. This feeding device is in the form of a pair of cooperating endless chains which are placed one upon each side of the web. each chain being provided with a series of projecting rubber grips or clips, the grips upon one chain be ing paired with those upon the other chain, and the grips cooperating to pinch the folded web between them. This chain feed is disposed in the middle of the work or product, to engage the same along a single vertical line, whereby liability of irregular feeding of the web and consequent ditficulty Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Serial No. 229,531.

is avoided. Below the feeding chains the web may be delivered to a tray or other receptacle, or may be otherwise disposed of.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a Sltlt' elevation of an apparatus embodying the present improvements, showing the original w cb as paying otl from the supply-roll and anally gathered into a fan-folded product.

Fig. 2 is a rear lHllliHl of the machine. illustrating the gaih riug, folding and delivery of the web Fig 3 is an enlarged sectional rear elevation, taken about centrally of the machine, illustrating details oi the web-feeding mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the feeding devices. etc.

Fig. 5 is a diagram to show the web in a fluted or partly gathered condition as it. feeds past the gathering fingers 19.

Fig. 6 is a diagram to show the web at a later stage as it pawns by the guide-fingers 29, just previous to rut wing the final former.

The web is tit-willy received from the printing press in the f rm of a roll 10. and

is usually provided ith continuou longitudinal rows ot titll' l'ullmls it along the lines upon which the web is liu be doubled or folded. From the roll the web may be paid off or loosened, and then led upwardly to an elevated horizontal guide bar or roll 11*, over which it turns to travel horizontally to about the middle of the machine, where it turns over a second bar 12 and vertically descends. This second bar 12 is arched or bowed upwardly, as shown, to facilitate the gathering of the web into a multiple-fold product. The curve of the bar may be struck from about the point of convergence 13 of the folds, as at Fig. 2.

This guide arch is mounted for adjustment to bring it exactly to the position of greatest etficiency for different classes of work, as required. For the purpose of adjustment, the arch may be provided with arms 14, whereby it is mounted on pintles or pivots 15 at the sides of the upper framework; said pintles mounted in brackets 16 fixed upon rods 17 formin parts of the general framework. It will be seen that either side of the arch may be swung horizontally a trifle, in order to bring the arch into true position; or that the arch may be swung broadside either forwardly or backwardly, as required, and in either case secured by means of nuts 18. This arch is preferably mounted so that its delivery face is in a vertical plane which intersects the middle of the folded productat the lower or delivery pai't of the apparatus.

From this arch the path of the web descends between opposite overlapping guides or gatherers in the form of fingers 19, which are arranged alternately upon opposite sides of the gathering web and guide it into a fluted condition (Fig. 5) at a point about midway between the overlying arch 12 and an underlying uide 20 which brings the web into its fina fan-folded or doubled condition, said guide 20 being arranged directly under the arch 12, and in position to cooperate properly with the row of fiuting fingers 19. Said fingers are in the form of fixed rods projecting inwardly from split blocks 21 which are adjustable along sup porting rods 22 fixed in opposite sides of the framework; and said framework may comprise standards 23 rising from a base 24 and having suitable members to support the rods and other devices herein specified.

The final former or gatherer is in the form of a block 20, having a central, vertical slot or hole 25, oblong in crosssection, by which the web is brought to its final fan-folded condition; the upper part of this hole having its side edges rounded at 26 to facilitate the filial closing of the web plies together to complete the fold. This block or former is mounted on suitable supports or uprights 27 fixed upon the framework of the machine, and may be replaced by a block haying a different dimension of hole, to suit either a narrower or a wider product, screws or other fastening devices 28 securing the block to the supports.

Just above the former 20 is provided a second series of overlapping, oppositely-projecting guides in the form of horrzontal fingers 29, Figs. 1 and 2, to lie within the folds of the nearly folded web, and aid in finishing the fold and guiding the web to the final former 20. These guide fingers 29 may be parallel round rods mounted upon opposite brackets 30, the free end of each rod projecting toward the opposite bracket, so that the fingers ma enter the alternate folds in the web; and t ere being one finger for each fold. These rods may be spaced a art as required, and clamped upon the brac ets by means of overlying bars 31, at the ends of which are arranged clamping bolts 32; the bars 31 being preferably faced with felt, as

at 33; and a similar facing being provided" upon the top surface of the bracket 30, so as to hold the fingers securely.

The final forming block 20 is made adjustablc edgewise' (by means of slots 33) to facilitate making corrections in the path of the web. By means of the independent adjustment of the arch 12 and of the final forming block 20 (as well as of the guides 29), the web can be brought under accurate control, even if the parts of the apparatus are crudel constructed.

Below t e former 20, and arranged about centrally thereof and on the central line of the machine, is a two-part feeder, comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain 34 provided with frictional clips or feeding blocks 35, these blocks being usually of soft rubber. The chains are 00- operative and ma be duplicates, one upon one side of the we -product 36 and one upon the other side, and the feeding blocks are paired upon the opposite chains, so that the blocks in each pair may cooperate to clip the web-product firmly between them and pull the same down.

The chains run over pairs of upper and lower sprocket wheels 37, 38, which are mounted upon shafts 39, 40, the latter connected by similar gears 41, 42; and a motor 43 may be employed to drive the system of web-feeding chains; said motor being suitably connected to one of the sprocket shafts 39 or 40.

The rubber clip-blocks 35 are arranged at intervals upon each chain to agree with the arrangement of the blocks upon the other chain, and come opposite to each other to clip the paper, as seen at Fig. 3. These clips are at such frequent intervals upon the chain that the web is always in control, and always being pulled down by at least one pair of clips, so that the pull upon the web is continuous. The pull as illu trated is a single central or midway pull upon the product, whereby liability of skewing, distortion or injury of the product is minimized or avoided, a good speed of operation is made practicable, and a reliable feed of the web over and through the various guides is assured.

A substantial advantage is gained in providing. for the purpose of advancing the web, a pulling device which acts upon the product along a single line centrally thereof. It is found in practice that by means of this device liability of misfeeding of the web is minimized or avoided, and accurate con struction of parts is rendered unnecessary, since the central draft upon the web tends to be self-corrective, thereby minimizing or overcoming any liability of the web to creep from side to side, or otherwise act in a faulty manner.

From the feeding chain the product may descend into any suitable receptacle or other device, as may be desired.

It will be understood that any former 20 will be centrally placed with reference to the double feeding chain, so that said chain will serve its pur )ose efiicientlv in drawing through the machine all fan-folded products of various widths. Various sizes of formers 20 may be used from time to time as reqnired.

Each rubber block 35 may be secured by means of a pair of jaws or clips 44, which may converge outwardly from a link of the chain; the yielding rubber being sprung into place between said jaws so as to be securely retained thereby.

The inner reaches of the feeding chains may be suitably backed or supported, so as to enable the rubber blocks to grip the webproduct firmly between them. One method of supporting the chains at these points is illustrated in the drawings, in which horizontal rollers 45, placed near together, one above another, are used to back the chains. These supporting rollers may be either mounted upon pivots 46 or they may lie loosely one upon another in a frame 47. In either case, they support firmly the links of the chain which bear the rubber clips. In some cases, the rollers 45 may be omitted, and the chain links may bear directly against the back portion of the frame 47, which, in that case, would be contiguous to the links.

By mounting the arched guide 12 in a plane which is about parallel with the general direction of downward travel of the web from said arch, the gathering of the web is greatly facilitated, and a further advantage is gained by adjusting said arch upon the pivots 15, to bring the same into proper reationship to the gathering and folding devices arranged under said arch.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. The combination of an arched guide at the introductoryside of the machine over which the web is led, a final former for the gathered web, and a series of overlapping oppositely-projecting guides between said former and said arched guide, the latter mounted in a plane which intersects the middle of the folded product at the final former.

Q. The combination of an arched guide at the introductory side of the machine over which the web is led, a final former for the gathered web. a series of overlapping oppositely-projecting guides between said former and said arched guide. the latter mounted in a plane which intersects the middle of the folded product at the final former. and means for etl'ccting adjustment of said arched guide. I

3. In an apparatus for gathering a web into fan-fold form. the combination of a final former, guides in advance of said final former over which the web is led and gathered, and a feeding device at the delivery side of said final former for drawing the web through the apparatus, said feeding device comprising devices upon opposite sides of the product to grip and advance the same, said ripping devices in the form of endless chains, each having means to engage the web.

4. In an apparatus for gathering a web into fan-fold form, the combination of a final former, guides in advance of said final former over which the web is led and gathered, a feeding device at the delivery side of said final former for drawin the web through the apparatus, said feeding device comprising devices upon opposite sides of the product to grip and advance the same, said gripping devices in the form of endless chains, each having means to engage the web, said web-engaging means being disposed about at the center line of the product, and means to drive said chains.

5. In an apparatus for gathering a web into fan-fold form. the combination of a final former. gathering devices in advance of said final former, and feeding chains on the delivery side of said final former. said chains mounted one upon each side of the product, to work in a plane which is about midway between the side edges of said final former, to exert a central draft upon the product.

6. The combination of an arched guide at the introductory side of the machine over which the web is led, a final former for the gathered web. and a series of overlapping oppositely-projecting guides between said former and said arched guide, the latter mounted in a plane which intersects the. middle of the folded product at the linal former, the curve of said arched guide being struck from about the point of final convergence of the folds.

T. In an apparatus for gathering a web into fan-fold form, the combination of a final former. gathering devices in advance of said final former. cooperative feeding chains on the delivery side of said final former. said chains mounted upon each side of the product, and means for supporting the links of the chains along those reaches which are adjacent to the product to enable the chains to grip,the product.

8. In an apparatus for gathering a web into fan-fold form. the combination of a final former. gathering devices in advance of said final former, cooperative feeding chains on the delivery side of said filial former, said chains mounted upon each side of the product, and means for supporting the links of the chains along those reaches which are adjacent to the product to enable the chains to grip the product. said supporting means in the form of a series of rolls over which the links of the chains run.

5). The combination with web-gathering devices including a final former. of a feeding device on the delivery side of said final former to engage the product, said feeding device in the form of a pair of cooperating endless chains placed one upon each side of the product, and means to drive said chains.

10. The combination with web-gathering devices including a final former, of a feeding device on the delivery side of said final former to engage the product, said feeding device in the form of a pair of cooperating endless chains placed one upon each side of the product, and means to drive said chains; each chain being provided with a series of projecting rubber grips, the grips upon one chain being pairedwith those upon the other chain to pinch the product between them,

11. The combination with Web-gathering devices including a final former, of a feeding device on the delivery side of said final former to engage the product, said feeding device in the form of a pair of coo 'ierating endless chains placed one upon each side of the product, and means to drive said chains; each chain being provided with a series of projecting rubber grips, the grips upon one chain being paired with those upon the other chain to pinch the product between them, said chains being disposed along the middle line of the product to give a central draft thereto.

12. The combination of an arched guide at the introductory side of the machine over which the web is led. a final former for the gatluercd web, a series of overlapping oppositely-projecting guides between said former and said arched guide, the latter mounted in a )lane which intersects the middle of the folded product at the final former, and in ans whereby said arched guide is mounted to afford adjustment of one end independently of the other.

13. The combination of an arched guide at the introductory side of the machine over which the vi eb is led. a final former for the gathered web. and a series of overiapping oppositely projecting guides between said former and said arched guide, the latter mounted in a plane which intersects the mid dlc of the foided product at the final former. said arched guide being hinged at its ends to afford a swinging adJustment of the arch.

14. The combination of .an arched guide at the introductory side of the machine over which tin web is icd. a final former for the gathered web. and a series of overlapping iippositely"projecting guides between said former and said arched guide. the latter mounied in a plane which intersects the middle of the foidcd product at the finai former, each of said arched guide and final former being adjustable relatively to the other.

15. The combination with web-gathering devices including a fori'ner, of a two-part feeder arranged upon the central line of the folded Web, said feeder comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain, provided with frictional clips.

16. The combination with Web-gathering devices including a former, of a two-part feeder arranged upon the central line of the folded web, said feeder comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain, provided with frictional clips, the clips upon one chain being paired with those upon the other.

17. The combination with web gathering devices inciuding a former, of a two-part feeder arranged upon the central line of the folded web, said feeder comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain, provided with frictional clips, the clips upon one chain being paired with those upon the other, upper and lower sprocketwvheels for each chain. gearing connecting said sproclrct-wheels, and means to drive the feeder.

18. The combination with Web-gathering devices including a former, of a two-part feeder aruangcd upon the central line of the folded web, said feeder comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain, provided with frictional clips. the clips upon one chain being paired with those upon the other. said clips being at such frequent intervals upon the chains that the web is al ways in control of said feeder and always being advanced by at least one pair of clips.

19. The combination with web-gathering devices including a. linai former, of means on the delivery side of said final former for imparting to the web a continuous pull; said feeding means arranged along the central line of the product.

20. The combination with web-gathering devices including a former, of a two-part feeder arranged upon the central line of the folded web. said feeder comprising on each side of the folded web a single endless chain, each of said chains having at intervals links provided with jaws or clips. and yieldin frictional feeding blocks gripped by said jaws.

ROBFHT d. M. DANLEY. LOUIS A. SNYDER. lVitncsscs:

Maurua Ems iinru ililiiSi-i, JENNIE P. Tnonun. 

